Flatware box and kit

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to flatware box and kit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flatware box and kit which contains a set of flatware attached to a rack, in which the top of the box consists of a see through window, means for interlocking the top of the box to the bottom of the box and means for dispensing the flatware box and kit on a store shelf in the upright position so that the contents of the box is visible, while at the same time, the box containing the flatware and kit leans back on the shelf rather then forward, preventing the toppling of the box and kit off the shelf and on to passers by.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flatware box and kit. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a flatware box and kitwhich contains a set of flatware attached to a rack, in which the top ofthe box consists of a see-through window, means for interlocking the topof the box to the bottom of the box, and means for dispensing theflatware box and kit on a store shelf in the upright position so thatthe contents of the box are visible, while at the same time, the boxcontaining the flatware and kit leans back on the shelf rather thanforward, preventing the toppling of the box and kit off the shelf and onto passers-by.

Flatware and flatware racks have been around a long time and packagedwithin various types of boxes. Typically, flatware will be packaged in abox which will not allow the purchaser to see the contents as they arecontained in the box. Sometimes the box will have a picture of theflatware on the outside, other times no picture will be displayed. Ifsuch is the case, it is typical for the store selling the flatware todisplay an open set of the flatware so as to allow the consumer to seewhat he/she is purchasing. In such situations, however, what is actuallycontained within the box is not seen by the purchaser until the box isned.

The ideal box for flatware would, therefore, be a box which contains asee-through top, allowing the consumer to check its contents withoutactually having to open the box. Examples of such display boxes withsee-through tops or large windows are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,325to Yonker et al, issued Apr. 25, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,703B1 toThompson et al, issued Oct. 8, 2002; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,366B toEdgerton et al, issued Apr. 16, 2002.

There are two problems presented by a box with a see-through top. Thefirst is how the box is displayed on the store shelf. When there is nosee-through top, the contents of one box are displayed and usually theboxes containing the flatware to be purchased will be stacked one on topof the other, in a nearby location, out of harms way. When the boxcontains a see-through top, the box itself acts as the display productand therefore, must be positioned accordingly. The store owner,therefore, would ideally place the box with the see-through top in theupright position, rather then the flat stacked position, allowing theconsumer to see what is contained within the box. The boxes will then belined up one behind the other, so that as the boxes are sold and removedfrom the shelf, the front of the remaining boxes is in a displayposition.

However, when the display box is placed in the upright position, thereis a danger of the box tipping over and falling on people passing by, orpotential purchasers. Usually the box containing a see-through topstands vertically on the shelf, allowing the consumer to see the box'scontents clearly. Given the weight of the box and its contents it isvery easy for a box to tumble off the shelf and strike a passerby.

A second problem presented by a box with a see-through top is that thebox often tends to open up when placed in the vertical display position.This is in contrast to the typical flatware box without a window whichconsists of one undivided outer shell having flags at the sides or ends.As such, there is no problem of the top and bottom of the windowless boxfalling apart since they are one continuous piece. Additionally, sincethe windowless box is not the display itself, it will usually be lyingflat on the shelf and therefore, there is less of a chance that it willfall off the shelf.

In contrast, a flatware box with a see-through top ideally would consistof two separate pieces, a top see-through portion and a bottom supportportion. A problem exists in attaching the top of the box to the bottomof the box. The problem is exacerbated when one considers that the boxwill usually be displayed on the store shelf in the upright position. Ifthe flatware box is lying flat, as is usually the case when there is nosee-through top or large window, then the top of the box is positionedabove the bottom of the box and the box is stable. However, since theflatware box with see-through top is often displayed in the uprightposition, the contents of the box will drop towards the bottom of thebox tending to force apart the top from the bottom.

Additionally, the bottom support portion of the box is stronger andthicker than the see-through top. If the top portion is fit into thebottom portion when the box is assembled, then the top portion will besmaller than the bottom and the box will have a tendency to tip forwardwhen placed in the upright position.

As such, it would be greatly desirable to have a box which has asee-through top, which can be placed on a shelf in the upright position,with a tendency to tip or lean back on the shelf, as opposed to forward.That way the box and the kit will be inclined to fall backwards on tothe shelf, rather then forwards on to passers-by. Additionally, thesee-through top of the flatware box and the bottom of the flatware boxshould provide means to conveniently and securely lock the top andbottom of the box so that the entire kit does not split in two at anypoint in time and can still be opened without undue difficulty.

There should also be some means for attaching the rack that holds theflatware to the support portion of the box, and the combination of theflatware and the rack to the bottom portion of the box.

Accordingly, there is a need for a flatware box with a see-through topwhich contains means to cause the box to lean backward when in avertical position, means to fasten the top and bottom of the box to eachother, and means for attaching the flatware to the rack, and theflatware and the rack to the bottom of the box.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention sets forth a flatware box and kit which consistsof a see-through top, tabs causing the box to lean backward on the shelfwhile in the upright position, means to fasten the top of the box to thebottom of the box, and a means for attaching the flatware to the rack,and the flatware and the rack to the bottom of the box.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aflatware box and kit which consists of a see-through top for ease ofvisualization of the contents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flatware box andkit which consists of means for maintaining the box in the uprightposition when on display.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flatwarebox and kit which consists of means for standing the box in the uprightposition when on display, which further causes the box when in theupright position to lean backward rather then forward.

Another object of the present invention to provide a flatware box andkit which consists of means to lock the top of the flatware box with thebottom of the flatware box so that the top and bottom of the box willnot separate or split.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flatware boxand kit which contains a rack capable of holding a set of flatware in anorganized manner while inside the box and when removed from the box.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flatwarebox and kit which consists of a rack to hold flatware in an organizedmanner, a set of flatware organized in the rack, and means to attach theflatware to the rack.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kitwhich consists of a rack for holding flatware in an organized manner,the flatware held in the rack, and means to hold the flatware in therack, and means to hold the rack which further consists of the rack withthe flatware organized in the rack, wherein the flatware is affixed tothe rack, and means of holding the rack to the bottom of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kitwhich is relatively durable and long-lasting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flatware box and kitwhich contains a rack in which flatware may be easily removed orreplaced.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a flatware box andkit which consists of a rack, a flatware set, a box with a see-throughtop, means for attaching the flatware to the rack, means for attachingthe flatware rack containing the flatware set to the box, means forlocking the top of the box to the bottom of the box and means forcausing the box containing the flatware kit to lean backwards ratherthan forward when the box is in the vertical position.

These, and various other and further features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate byway of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, referencemay be had to the detailed description of the invention taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is am exploded view from the upper left side showing the majorcomponents of a flatware box and kit in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the flatwarebox and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the top portionof the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the flatwarerack of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the upper left side of the bottomportion of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 a left side view of the flatware box and kit shown in FIG. 1 asdisplayed on a shelf.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the flatware rack shown in FIG. 1 with flatwarepositioned in the rack.

FIG. 8 shows a group of flatware secured together.

FIG. 9 shows a group of flatware secured to the flatware rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the FIGS. 1 through 9, the flatware box and kit, indicatedgenerally by reference number 10, consists of a box 20 and a kit 30. Thekit 30 can be seen clearly in FIG. 7. The box consists of a top portion100 and a bottom portion 300. The kit consists of a rack 200 andpossibly flatware 40, which can also be seen in FIG. 7. The top portion100 of the box 20 is made of a see-through material, such as plastic.The bottom portion 300 of the box 20 is made of a rigid material, suchas cardboard.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 consists of a roof portion 110 andfour walls, a front wall 120, a back wall 130, a left wall 140, and aright wall 150. The roof portion 110 consists of a top side 111 and anunder side 112. Each of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150 consist of anouter side, an inner side, a top side and a bottom side. The outer sideis respectively numbered 121, 131, 141, and 151. The inner side isrespectively numbered 122, 132, 142, and 152. The top side is numbered123, 133, 143, and 153, respectively. The bottom side is numbered 124,134, 144, 154 respectively. The top portion 100 of the box 20 is formedfrom one continuous piece of material which consists of four horizontalfold lines and four vertical fold lines. The four horizontal fold linesrespectively are numbered 125, 135, 145, and 155. The vertical foldlines will be respectively numbered according to the walls that formthem. Accordingly, the vertical fold lines are respectively numbered120/150, 150/130, 130/140, 140/120. The numbering for the vertical foldlines can be seen clearly in FIG. 3. The four horizontal fold lines 125,135, 145, and 155 separate the roof portion 110 from the four walls 120,130, 140, and 150. The four vertical fold lines 120/150, 150/130,130/140, 140/120 separate each of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150,respectively, from each other.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 additionally comprises two types oftabs, leaning tabs 180 and connecting tabs 160. There are three leaningtabs 180 and eight connecting tabs 160. Each leaning tab 180 is formedby two cuts in the bottom side 134 of the back wall 130 of the topportion 100. The leaning tabs 180 are folded at the point where the twoadjacent cuts end, thereby forming horizontal leaning fold lines 181(much smaller then the horizontal lines 125, 135, 145, 155), andcreating a right angle between the leaning tabs 180 and the bottom side134 of the back wall 130 of the top portion 100. The leaning tabs 180extend past the bottom side 134 of the back wall 130 or the top portion100 of the box 20, to facilitate the box 20 leaning backwards on theshelf rather then forwards. The leaning tabs 180 can be seen clearly forthis purpose in FIG. 6.

The rack portion 200 consists of a mesh bottom side 210 and a pluralityof varying size compartments 220 for flatware 40 of different sizes andutility, i.e. a fork and a knife. The mesh bottom side 210 can receiveconnecting means 230 for securing flatware 40 to the rack 200 and forsecuring rack 200 and flatware 40 to the bottom portion 300 of the box20. The connecting means 230 can be seen clearly in FIG. 7.

The bottom portion 300 of the box 20 consists of a floor portion 310 andfour walls, front wall 320, back wall 330, left wall 340 and right wall350. The floor portion 310 consists of a top side 311 and an under side312. Each of the four wall 320, 330, 340, and 350 consists of an outerside, an inner side, a top side and a bottom side. The outer side isrespectively numbered 321, 331, 341, and 351. The inner side isrespectively numbered 322, 332, 342, and 352. The top side isrespectively numbered 323, 333, 343, and 353. The bottom side isrespectively numbered 324, 334, 344, and 354. The outer side 321, 331,341, and 351 and the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 of the four walls320, 330, 340, 350 are created by fold lines respectively numbered 325,235, 345, and 355 on the top side 323, 333, 343, and 353 of the fourwalls 320, 330, 340, and 350 which allows each of the four walls 320,330, 340, and 350 to fold down on itself thereby causing the four walls320, 330, 340, and 350 to be of a double thickness. As such, the fourwalls 320, 330, 340, 350 have an external and internal portion of theouter side and an external and internal portion of the inner side. Theinternal portion of the outer side and the internal portion of the innerside come in contact with each other to form the four walls 320, 330,340, 350. The external portion of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 ofthe four walls 320, 330, 240, 350 is respectively numbered 326, 336,346, 356. The internal portion of the outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 is respectively numbered 327,337, 347, and 357. The external portion of the inner side 322, 332, 342,and 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 is respectivelynumbered 328, 338, 348, and 358. The internal portion of the inner side322, 332, 342, and 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 240, and 350 isrespectively numbered 329, 339, 349, and 359.

The outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 and the inner side 322, 332, 342,and 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 consist of a top side and abottom side. The top side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, and 351 isactually the top side of the inner side 322, 332, 342, and 352 which isalso the top side of the four walls 320, 330, 340, and 350. Accordingly,the top side of the outer side and the inner side shall maintain thenumbering of the top side of the four walls, namely 323, 333, 343, and353. The bottom side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 and the bottomside of the inner side 322, 332, 342, 352 come togther to form thebottom side of the four walls 324, 334, 344, 354. The bottom side of theouter portion 321, 331, 341, 351 falls on the fold lines 325, 335, 345,355. Accordingly, the bottom side of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351is respectively numbered 3250, 3350, 3450, 3550. The bottom side of theinner side 322, 332, 342, 352 is the free side, and is respectivelynumbered 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551. This numbering can be seen clearly inFIG. 5.

At the bottom side 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551 of the inner side 322, 332,342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 are rectangular cut outportions 370, a total of eight (8) cut out portions 370 in all fourwalls 320, 330, 340, 350. There are two (2) cut out portions on eachwall, one on each of the far corners. When the inner side 322, 332, 342,352 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 are folded down on the outerside 321, 331, 341, 351 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 to createthe four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 (of double thickness), the rectangularcut out portions 370 on the bottom side 3251, 3351, 3451, 3551 of theinner sides 322, 332, 342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350create a slit 371 for receiving the connecting tabs 160 of the topportion 100 of the box 20.

Additionally, the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 contains a removablefloor board 380 preferably made of the same rigid material as the bottomportion 300 of the box 20. The floor board 380 consists of a top surface381, an under surface 382, a back side 383, a front side 384, a leftside 385 and a right side 386. The floor board fits 380 into the bottomportion 300 of the box 20 perfectly with its under surface 382 pressingagainst the top side 311 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. Allfour sides 383, 384, 385, 386 of the floor board 380 come in contactwith the internal portion 326, 336, 346, 356 of the inner side 322, 332,342, 352 of all four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300of the box 20. The top side 323, 333, 343, 353 of the inner side 322,332, 342, 352 of the walls 320, 330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300of the box 20 are folded down at the fold lines 325, 335, 345, 355 andare essentially locked into place by having the bottom/free side 3251,3351, 3451, 3551 being pressed against the top surface 381 of the floorboard 380 as it is coming in contact with the internal portion 327, 337,347, 357 of the outer side 321, 331, 341, 351 of the four walls 320,330, 340, 350 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The numbering ofthe floor board can be seen clearly in FIG. 5.

Additionally, the floor portion 310 of the bottom portion 300 of the box20 have a number of centrally placed wholes 500 that extend from theunder side 312 through the top side 311 of the floor portion 310, andthen through the entire width of the floor board 380. These holes 500are for receiving straps 550 that secure the rack 200 and the flatware40 to the bottom portion 300 of the box 200. The holes 500 can be seenclearly in FIG. 5. The straps 550 can be seen clearly in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 2. all three portions of the flatware rack with kit 10are connected to form one entity. The way this is accomplished is thatthe rack 200 is secured to the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 viastraps 550 that are inserted at the under side 312 of the floor portion310 of the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 and extend upwards throughthe wholes 500 in the floor portion 310 and the wholes 510 in the floorboard 380 and subsequently through the mesh base 210 of the rack 200.The straps 550 are then twisted or tied to secure the rack 200 in place.

The top portion 100 of the box 20 is then placed over the bottom portion300 of the box 20 with the rack 200 attached. The top portion of the box20 is slightly smaller in width and length then the bottom portion 300of the box 20 so that the top portion 100 of box 20 can fit into thebottom portion 300 of the box 20 with the outer side 121, 131, 141, 151of the four walls 120, 130, 140, 150 on the top portion 100 of the box20 coming in contact with the internal side 329, 239, 249, 259 of theinner portion 322, 332, 342, 352 of the four walls 320, 330, 340, 350 ofthe bottom portion 300 of the box 20 when the top portion 100 of the box20 is placed into the bottom portion 300 of the box 20. The top portion100 of the box 20 is secured to the bottom portion 300 of the box 20 byinserting the connecting tabs 160 on the top portion 100 of the box 20into the slits 370 in the bottom portion 300 of the box 20.

It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyexemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variationsand modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. All such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention as defined herein.

1. A flatware box and kit comprising: A box; having a top portion and abottom portion, the bottom having a bottom panel at least one hole inthe bottom panel adapted for receiving fastening straps, at least onevertical side, at least one fastening cut out in the at least onevertical side to receive fastening tabs. a rack adapted to holdflatware, at least one strap to hold flatware to the rack at least onestrap connected to the rack and passing through the at least one hole inthe bottom panel to hold the rack to the box the top of the box having,a clear top a plurality of sides that fit into the bottom of the box atleast one of the sides having at least one fastening tab positioned toregister with the at least one fastening cutout in the at least onevertical side. at bottom of sides the at least one of the sides beingdeformable to allow insertion and removal of the fastening tab into thefastening cut of the bottom portion of the box. at least one leaning tabextending from at least one edge of the clear top said at least one tabextending beyond the side walls of bottom to cause the box to rest onthe leaning tabs and the lowermost side of the bottom of the box tocause the box to lean when the assembled box is positioned on the sidewith the leaning tabs in the lowermost position.
 2. The flatware box andkit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom having a plurality ofvertical sides the top having a plurality of vertical sides
 3. Theflatware box and kit as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the atleast one vertical side of the bottom includes a plurality of fasteningcuts
 4. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 3, wherein eachof the at least one of the vertical sides of said top includes aplurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fasteningcuts in said bottom portion
 5. The flatware box and kit as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality ofleaning tabs.
 6. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim 5,wherein said at least one leaning tab comprises a plurality of leaningtabs, the bottom having a plurality of vertical sides, the top having aplurality of vertical sides.
 7. The flatware box and kit as set forth inclaim 6, wherein the bottom having four vertical sides, the top havingfour vertical sides.
 8. The flatware box and kit as set forth in claim7, wherein each of the vertical sides of the bottom includes a pluralityof fastening cuts each of the vertical sides of said top includes aplurality of fastening tabs positioned to register with said fasteningcuts in said bottom portion.
 9. A display comprising: a top portion anda bottom portion the bottom having a bottom panel at least one hole inthe bottom panel adapted for receiving fastening straps at least onevertical side at least one fastening cut out in the at least onevertical side to receive fastening tabs the top of the box having, aclear top a plurality of sides that fit into the bottom of the box atleast one of the sides having at least one fastening tab positioned toregister with the at least one fastening cutout in the at least onevertical side at bottom of sides the at least one of the sides beingdeformable to allow insertion and removal of the fastening tab into thefastening cut of the bottom portion of the box, at least one leaning tabextending from at least one edge of the clear top said at least one tabextending beyond the side walls of bottom to cause the box to rest onthe leaning tabs and the lowermost side of the bottom of the box tocause the box to lean when the assembled box is positioned on the sidewith the leaning tabs in the lowermost position.
 10. The display box asset forth in claim 9, wherein the bottom having a plurality of verticalsides the top having a plurality of vertical sides
 11. The display boxas set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the at least one vertical sideof the bottom includes a plurality of fastening cuts.
 12. The displaybox as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of the at least one of thevertical sides of said top includes a plurality of fastening tabspositioned to register with said fastening cuts in said bottom portion.13. The display box as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least oneleaning tab comprises a plurality of leaning tabs.
 14. The display boxas set forth in claim 13, wherein said at least one leaning tabcomprises a plurality of leaning tabs, the bottom having a plurality ofvertical sides, the top having a plurality of vertical sides.
 15. Thedisplay box as set forth in claim 14, wherein the bottom having fourvertical sides, the top having four vertical sides.
 16. The display boxas forth in claim 15, wherein each of the vertical sides of the bottomincludes a plurality of fastening cuts each of the vertical sides ofsaid top includes a plurality of fastening tabs positioned to registerwith said fastening cuts in said bottom portion.